MovieChat Forums > Get on Up (2014) Discussion > Suggestions of bisexuality

Suggestions of bisexuality

posted 10 years ago by drtturner
16 replies | jump to latest

Don't shoot me the messenger, but I was enchanted by the friendship of Bobby and James, but on the drive home I played devil's advocate and made the case that he was ...Fred Sanford hand wobble. 1. Bobby rescued him then was like his wet nurse throughout. 2. He sings a ballad while looking at his married elder friend in the audience as the 2 get emotional. 3. He is so made up with make up in the last concert that he looks like Viola or Wesly in Tu Wong Fu. 4. He was quite comfortable with the yet unknown albeit talented Little Richard making a pass at him. Forget it. It probably was nothing.

[–] atlstl88 10 years ago

No, but your comment suggests homophobia. And no, homophobia is not only exhibited through violence or overt hate speech.

I'm pretty sure he was comfortable with Little Richard because he was comfortable with himself. He also probably loved the fact that Little Richard was unapologetically himself and didn't give a hot damn about what other people thought about him.

Bobby Byrd was a loving, caring, and dedicated friend, albeit to a fault, but a great friend nonetheless. He overlooked a lot of things because he knew James was pretty screwed up due to a pretty screwed up childhood, therefore James didn't know how to form healthy relationships, platonic or romantic. Bobby might not have actually said that, but his actions did. Bobby also seemed to grow up in a much more stable environment with a loving family, so naturally he brought that into his friendship with James. And James like a lot of people who've dealt with abandonment had a "beat them to the punch" mentality; I know you're going to leave me like everyone else has, so I'll push you away before you ever get the chance too. That sort of mentality is a subconscious coping mechanism type of thing. That's not absolving James of the wrongs he inflicted either, just sourcing it.

So, James aimed Try Me at Bobby because they had been estranged for all those years and he finally realized and acknowledged that Bobby was the one constant throughout his life (seeing that they'd been friends since they were teenagers). The one person who always had his back even after all the degradation James threw his way...until he just couldn't take it anymore. God forbid two men with history together have an emotional moment, during a ya know...emotional moment.

I'm not even going to really touch that "Too Wong Foo" comment of yours.

[–] drtturner 10 years ago

Well said, and you cleared the box for anyone in the future who might want to try to go there. Together we've beat the How you doing gossippers to the punch by laying out just how it was...or at least how it should be.

[–] Goombas84 10 years ago

he has a right to an opinion you dumb moron.. his comment is far from homophobic, get a grip you idiot.

[–] Neptunechild87 10 years ago

he has a right to an opinion you dumb moron.. his comment is far from homophobic, get a grip you idiot

and the person you are insulting has a right to have an opinion on someone else's opinion. Dumbass.

[–] kay_rock 9 years ago

he has a right to an opinion you dumb moron.. his comment is far from homophobic, get a grip you idiot

and the person you are insulting has a right to have an opinion on someone else's opinion. Dumbass.

Somehow I don't think the homophobe appreciates you defending them. You're not making them look any better by association.

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[–] Ithilfaen 10 years ago

4. He was quite comfortable with the yet unknown albeit talented Little Richard making a pass at him. Forget it.

Maybe he was fine with it because he knew something most men (including some who pretend not to be homophobic) don't see to know: if a guy makes a pass at you, it's a compliment and unless you accept it, that doesn't make you gay, or less of a man.

If women reacted the way men do when men flirt with them or make a pass at them, there would be a lot of dead men.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] karmagini 10 years ago

I never got that vibe. If anything, I thought the Bobby/James friendship was codependent.

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[–] abajasds 10 years ago

I never got that vibe from James and Bobby from the movie. Back then, when men were friends they were true friends. As young people say "No Homo." The scene with Little Richard and James did detect that Richard was quite fond of James the way he said "Mmmmm" said it all, but I think James just seen it as someone who has talent is saying to him he got what it takes. In the 1950's Little Richard was like the black Elvis. For a legend in his own time to say something like that probably meant the world to him.

I remember years ago, Little Richard spoke very fondly about James Brown in a interview when he was first starting out. After seeing their scene together made me remember that interview so yes, the two men had a long time friendship.

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[–] sandifay62 10 years ago

All I got from the Little Richard scene was that they were kindred spirits; megalomaniac performing geniuses on the cusp of iconic fame, a mutual distrust of the White man, and two young men that knew they were both effed up by their horrible childhoods. Little Richard knew what happened to him in his child hood and sensed that James Brown was damaged by his. Little Richard wasn't coming on to him, he 's always talked that way to everyone. They were strictly talking business and fame. James knew that and had no reason to be threatened sexually by Little Richards affectations. James was focused purely on himself and how he could and would use the advice he was given. Back then, everything wasn't considered sexual like it is today.

James and Bobby's relationship was brotherly. It was about business, and loyalty. The dynamics of it was toxic with Bobby being supportive and resentful at the same time and James being dominant and dismissive. They played roles that worked but ultimately hurt. It ended when Bobby had enough. There wasn't a scene in the movie that led me to believe that James and Bobby wanted to cuddle or hump one another. They mostly stayed out of each others personal business. Lovers don't do that.

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

No, I didn't think that there were any suggestions of bisexuality at all.

[–] MrSuave56 10 years ago

I agree with most of the comments,no bisexuality at all.Btw in earlier times it wasn't unusually for men to show manly affection toward one and other.It's unfortunate that these days there are so many people see things that aren't there.Especially when it comes to race and racism.

[–] blindvias-071407 10 years ago

Same here. I didn't see any indication of Little Richard making a pass. Their talk was all about dreams of being a hit in the business.

[–] purplepleatedpants 10 years ago

I didn't see any sexual tensions between Bobby and James. They had a lifetime journey and Bobby eventually left the storm behind. The gorgeous song at the end of the film was very touching between the two old veteran singers. And as for Little Richard, Geezuz, that scene at the burger joint was awesome. It portrayed Little Richard as much more than an eccentric effeminate guy. I loved that moment in the film, it gave depth and dimension to the eccentric genius that is Little Richard.

[–] necoleman 10 years ago

I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since My 2006.

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[–] Helenlaurence 8 years ago

First of all I'd like to say that I don't find your post homophobic at all. I think you were just musing and exploring a possibility in the film.

As to whether James brown was bisexual in RL- I have no idea as I don't know enough about him, and even if I did know lots about him, no one could really know that except him himself.

In the film, I would say no, he wasn't supposed to be portrayed as bisexual. He was easy with his sexuality, as others have pointed out.
He had a deep friendship with Bobby, which was sorely tested for all sorts of reasons-, I imagine it's hard at the best of times to be friends with someone who is such a legend ... Especially if you are also a singer. Also someone who was so messed up by his childhood.

The ending song I found very moving and was like James way of apologising to Bobby and acknowledging their friendship and yes how important he was in his life.

Interesting how others have said it was more acceptable for men to be affectionate and loving to eachother- and yet homophobia was probably much worse, in some ways.
Maybe that's why? Maybe people didn't consider it so much??

[–] Born_Tomorrow 8 years ago

Oh My Goodness, Dude! Are you serious? First HAHN board and now JB. You're so obsessed with these homosexual/Bisexual assumptions of yours. Let you tell it, the whole world is homo/bisexual. You'll find something homosexual about a brick wall or a slab of concrete. You Are Sick.

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